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COLUMN CHARTS

S1 - Column chart with average values

A simple grouped column chart with two data series. The average values are displayed with XY scatter charts. In order to have enough space for the average labels on the right-hand side, an empty 13th month has been added to the x-axis.

S2 - Grouped column chart with values

A similar chart like S1 but with bigger columns in order to display the values of each data point inside the columns. When showing values at each data point there is no need to show the y-axis. A category legend has been added to the top of the chart area.

S3 - Stacked columns with grand totals

This example is an easy stacked column chart with values inside each column. The gimmick here is the additional total line above the top series. Such a total of stacked columns cannot be created with Excel standards. However with an additional line chart series it can be added with just a few clicks.

S4 - Stacked column chart with trend lines

This is another stacked column chart however with trend lines highlighting the data changes from one period to another. When positioning the lines, please note that the centre of the first column is located at x-position 1. As the line chart series does not start at the centre of column one, but at the left column end, the line must start at x-pos 0.75 and it must end at 1.25. Thereafter it goes to 1.75 which represents the beginning of the second column.

S4a - Stacked column chart with arrows

This is a stacked column chart similar to S4 but with arrows indicating the data changes. In addition the percentage variance is displayed next to the arrows. The arrows move automatically based on the values entered by the user.

S5 - Waterfall chart with lines

A waterfall chart with green columns for rising values and red columns for decreasing values. The colors change automatically based on the values entered into the data table.

S6 - Stacked column chart on two coloured axis

This one would be an ordinary stacked column chart with total values if it would not sit on a two colored x-axis. Have you ever tried to develop something like this? This is not possible with standard Excel features! In order to achieve this you need to add two additional column chart series with 100% overlap sitting at y-pos 0. The thickness of this axis can be modified by the user via control fields.

S7 - Stacked column chart with variance indication

A smart stacked column chart with totals above the columns and lines and arrows indicating the variance between two data points. The dashed lines as well as the arrows can be moved around via control fields. The arrows are embedded graphic objects sticking at XY scatter points.

S8 - Columns for calendar weeks with dividers

This one is a rather simple chart showing 52+1 calendar weeks. In addition to the week numbers, the x-axis also contains vertical lines dividing the 12 months. In order to fit all the text into the x-axis area, it starts at -1 rather than at 0.

S9 - Stacked columns with gaps

Another stacked column chart showing quarterly figures over a period of 5 years. The years as well as the maximum indicator per year are displayed with XY scatter charts.

S10 - Mini columns as variance indicators

A column chart with integrated mini columns showing the respective variance to the previous month. The grey main columns sit on the primary axes whereas the mini columns are added to the secondary axes. The chart type you need to pick to create something like this is 'Stacked columns' with a transparent base series. The green and red mini columns are two different series only being supplied with data via an 'IF-function' if values are positive (green) or negative (red).

S11 - Pareto Chart

The purpose of pareto charts is to show frequency distributions. Where individual values are represented in descending order by columns, the cumulative total is represented by a line. In order to get the columns right next to each other without a gap, the value for gap for this data series must be put down to 0%. In addition to the column series and the line chart, there are a number of XY scatter series in this sample in order to get the arrows and the label plotted properly.

S12 - Mirrored columns

This one is a mirrored column chart, where the two columns to be compared are located above each other. Whereas the blue data series starts from the bottom to the top, the red series seems to grow downwards. This chart is actually a stacked column chart with a transparent middle series which 'lifts' the red series. The starting points for both series can be modified via respective data fields on the spreadsheet.

S13 - ABC-Analysis

Similar to sample S11 (Pareto-Chart), you may also use a column-line combination to display the results of an ABC-analysis. In this sample the columns represent the values of 12 different objects in a descending order. Furthermore the objects are grouped into 3 size brackets (A, B and C). The line shows the cumulative portion of the objects from left to right.